Pesto perpetuo flowering

ltlmrsSeptember 14, 2012

I bought Pesto perpetuo at a garden show back in the early summer. A few weeks ago it started flowering into these beautiful purple flowers. The tag said that it would not flower, so I started doing research and everything says that it does not flower. Aside from the flowers my plant looks exactly like the ones I found online. It has the characteristic strong smell and the taste is as described for Pesto perpetuo. Anyone else have this happen? Does this mean my basil won't survive the winter on my windowsill?

Can't comment about "Pesto perpetuo." But any sweet basil would be hard pressed to survive on a window sill for the winter. Sweet basil is an annual - 1 growing season lifespan. Some can keep them going long but their vigor is spent and they are a shadow of their former self. Plus meager winter sun through a window is not the light a basil requires. They grow in full sun. Enjoy your basil now. Bring it in if you wish, but don't expect it to be in next year's garden.

perpetuo is a variegated variety that can be grown as a perennial in zones 9 and up. With sufficient light it is supposed to be able to live in doors. The reason that this is possible is because it is a non-flowering variety, so it doesn't bolt. I guess my question was if anyone else had this "non-flowering" basil produce flowers.